System of submarine-mine laying



J. H. HAM MOND, In.

SYSTEM OF SUBMARINE MINE LAYING. APPLICATION FILED mmzs, 191a. RENEWED JAN. 30. 1919'.

97970 PatentedJune 6, 1922.,

qvitneoaeo T all whom it may concern:

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SYSTEM OF SUBMARTNE-MINE LAYING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

Application filed March 29, 1913, Serial No. 757,565. Renewed January 30, 1919. Serial No. 2742127.

Be it known that I, JOHN HAYS HAM- MoNo, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Gloucester, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefull Improvements in Systems of Submarine-Mine Laying, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems for laying submarine mines, and relates more particularly to a system by which vessels or receptacles containing explosives and means for firing said explosives are conveyed to any desired point by a torpedo, a submarine boat or other craft controlled from a distance, and there anchored:

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows one of my submarine-mines being towed by a torpedo or submarine boat. Fig. 2 shows, partly in diagrammatic form, a portion of my towing vessel with releasing mechanism for the towing line.

Fig. 3 shows, partly diagrammatic-ally, a side view of one of my mines, with its anchor attached.

Fig. 4 shows an end View of part of my mine.

Fig. 5 shows a top view of part of my m1ne.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of my tow line, with an attachment for automatically releasing it.

Fig. 7 shows details of the releasing mech- I anism for my anchor.

In the figures, T is a torpedo or submarine vessel, with masts M and M, between which is an antenna A, for the reception of radiant energy. This torpedo or submarine vessel can be controlled by radiant energy in anyof the ways I have indicated in my various applications for U. S. Patentnowpending. Aleading-inwireacon- 'nects the antenna with coilLand variablecondenser C in the interior of the vessel, and the antenna circuit is grounded at E. An oscillation circuit L C, comprising the inductance coil L and the variable condenser G, is inductively connected with the an.- tenna circuit by means of the coils L and L, and both this oscillation. circuit and the antenna circuit can be tuned to the wave length of a corresponding transmitting station onshore or on .another vessel. By

means of the stopping condenser C and the rectifier R unidirectional current impulses are supplied to the relay F. When the relay F is actuated, it causes the solenoid G to be energized by means of the battery B. A movable magnet core 9 is operatively connected with a valve V in such a manner that when the solenoid G'is energized-the valve V is 0I3I1ed, and compressed air, or other suitable fluid, can flow from the tank H through the pipe 'v to the cylinder 0. When the working fluid enters the cylinder 0, the piston P is pushed upagainst the pressure of the spring 27, and raises the piston rod Q, which is mechanically connected with the catch I. The latter normally holds a block J, towhich the towing line D is attached,

and when the piston rod Q is raised, the catch I is also lifted and releases the block J and the towing line D.

The mine S is attached to the other end of the towing line D. The mine S comprises watertight chambers X, X, filled with explosive material and containing electric fuses Y and Y, respectively. The watertight compartment U contains a battery or other source of electric current, and contacts whichcan connect the source of current in any suitable manner with the conductors 7 and 8,

leading, respectively to the electric fuses Y and Y, and with conductor 6, which is connected with contact piece 10 on lever W.

A weight N, with hooked pieces n n to anchor it to the bottom when released, is attached to a line K wound on a reel K, and

is held up by the hooks to w at the end of i the levers W W, respectively, these levers being pivoted at 13 and 14',respectively.

The towing line D is fastened to the ring 1 at the end of the rod 2, which passes through a stuffing box and a watertight conduit in the magazine X into the central part of the mine, and which is movable in the direction of its length. This rod is attached directly to the lever W and can also control the movements'of the lever W by means of the line 9. Near the out-board end of the rod 2 is fastened a cross piece 3, which is connected with the mine by the tensile springs Z and Z, which'tend to .pull the cross piece 3 and rod 2 toward the-mine. In order to hold the anchor weight N in place before the mine is taken in tow, there are two pieces 4, 4 fastened to the mine in such a way that the pin 5 can be inserted and held between them and the cross piece 3. The latter being drawn toward the pieces 4, 4: by the springs Z Z will hold the pin 5 in position, and will itself be prevented by the pin from approaching nearer to the mine. When the mine is taken in tow and a pull comes on the tow line, the rod 2 is pulled farther out, and with it the cross piece 3, so that the pin 5 drops out. Then, when the mine has been towed to the place where it is to be planted, the tow line from the torpedo or other craft is cast off, as above described, and the outward pull on the rod 2 ."being released, the springs Z and Z draw it toward the mine. This movement is assisted by the springs Z and Z attached to the lower end of the levers W and W, respectively, and the hooks w and w are pulled away from the ahchor weight N,

which drops to the bottom, unwinding the line K from the reel K as far as necessary,

but leaving the line K still connecting the anchor weight N and the mine S, so that the latter is held in the position desired.

The reel K- is in a compartment K, and

the tube K in which .the anchor line K travels, leads from K to the outside of'the mine. When the anchor weight N is in its normal position close to the mine, the lower end of tube K is closed, but when N is released, the tube K is o ened and the water enters and fills itand t e chamber K and so overcomes some of the reserve buoyancy of the .mine, which thus can be made to sink below the surface to any desired depth.

In order to prevent water fromv entering the other partsof the mine when the hooks "w and w are ,drawn in' to release the anchor weight N, these hooks'are caused to move in and out through stuffing boxes 15 and 16.'

At the outer ends of these stufiing boxes are the hinged doors l7 and 18, respectively, which are actuated by springs so that they shut and close the outlets of the stufling boxes 15 and 16 as soon as the hooks w and w are drawn in.-

When the rod 2 moves mso as to move the upper part oflever W -to the right, the contact plece 19 makes contact with contact-- 11 which is connected through conductor 12- ,with ground 'E', and in this way plosive mechanism is operate as desired.

The explosive mechanism contained in' the compartment or case U, and the fuses Y and Y can be so contrived that the mine will explode by contact, when struck by a vesel, or after'a certain time interval, or so that the time of explosion is under the control of an operator. at a distant station, either by wire connection or by radiant energy In ig. 6, the towing hne is shown in two the f ex: put in condition to for automatically dropping parts D andD, one attached to the towing vessel and the other to the mine, and at the outer ends of said lines are the hooked pieces 19 and 20, which embrace and hold the ball 21 as long as there is a pull or tension on the lines. When this tension is released, the ball drops out and the hooks fall apart. In this way the line can be arranged automatically to release the mine as soon as the towing vessel stops, and in some cases this may be preferable.

By means of my invention, submarine mines can be laid entirely without -the knowledge of the enemy, even when he is close at hand, and if he should clear a waterway of mines, others could be immediately relaid by my system.

,The releasing mechanism for the tow line on my towing vessel may be operated entirely electromagnetically, instead of partly by means of a fiuid'under pressure, the

-myself to the particular apparatus and mechanisms here shown, but various changes and modifications, within the knowledge of those skilled in the art, may be made in the particular apparatus shown. and described herein, without departing from the spiritof my invention, provided the means set forth .in'the following claims be employed. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A system for laying submarine mines comprising a mine, a submarine towing vessel, a towing line between said mine and said towing vessel, means controlled by radiant energy whereby said towing line can be released, an anchor weight attached I to the mine which will be released on the release of the'towing line, and means for exploding the mine.

2. A system for planting mines of explosites in waterways comprising a floating mine containing an explosive, an anchor detachably supported on said mine, and

means responsive to electroradiant energy fromwa distant station for releasing said anchor.

3. In a system for laying submarine mlnes, a floating mine containing an exploslve xa towlng vessel, a towing line controlled from a'distance, an anchor weight ,detachably supported on the mine, and means for automatically releasing said anchor when the towing line is released.

4. In a system for laying submarine mines, a towing vessel, a submarine mine, a tow line connecting said vwselrand said mine, means for'releasing said tow line, an

anchor attached to said mine, and means said anchor.- 5. The combination with a submarine mine of means connected thereto for towing the same, an anchor, and means controlled by said first mentioned means for detach"- ably securing said anchor to said mine.

6. The combination with a submarine mine, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, an anchor, means controlled by said yielding means for detachably securing said anchor to said mine, and means controlled by said yielding means for exploding said mine.

7 The combination with a submarine mine provided with a compartment having an outlet, of an anchor arranged over said outlet, flexible means connecting said anchor and said mine and coiled in said compartment, means connected to said mine for towing the same, and means controlled by said towing means for detachably holding said anchor over said outlet. I

8. The combination with a submarine mine, of means connected thereto for towing the same, and means detachably holding said anchor in a given position with respect to said mine and arranged to be released upon the release of said towing means to permit said anchor to fall.

9. The combination with a submarine mine, of means connected thereto for towing the same, and means detachably holding said anchor in a given position with respect to said mine and arranged to be released upon the release of said towing means to permit said anchor to fall, said-second mentioned means including an element engaging in an aperture provided therefor in said mine, and said mine being provided with means automatically operative to close said aperture upon the release of said anchor.

10. The combination with a submarine mine, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, and firing means for and carried by said mine and normally rendered potential by said yielding means.

11. The combination with a submarine mine, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, explosive means carried by said mine, and means normally rendered potential by said yielding means for exploding said explosive.

12. The combination with a container, of means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, an anchor, means controlled by said first mentioned means for SEE-.1.

curing said anchor to said container, explosive means carried by said container, and means controlled by said first mentioned means for firing said explosive means.

13. The combination with a container, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, an anchor, means controlled by said first mentioned means forsecuring said anchor to said container, explosive means carried by said container, and

means controlled by said first mentioned means for firing said explosive means.

14. The combination with a container, of

yielding means carried thereby for the attaohment of towing means, an anchor and explosive means carried b said containe and means controlled by said yielding means for detachably securing said anchor to said container and for exploding said explosive means.

15. In a system-for laying submarine mines, a towing vessel, a submarine mine, a

17. The combination with a submarine mine, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, means'caiy ried by said mine for exploding the same,

and means controlled by said yielding means for rendering said exploding means potential when said towing means is released.

. 18. The combination with a submarine mine, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, an anchor, means controlled by said yielding means for detachably securing said anchor to said mine, means for exploding said mine, and means controlled by said yielding means for rendering said exploding means potential '19. The combination with a submarine mine containing an explosive, of yielding means carried by said mine for the attachment of towing means, and means for exploding said explosive, said last mentioned means being rendered potential by said yielding means when said towing means is released. 0 a

20. The combination with a submarine mine containing an explosive, of yielding means carried by said mine for the attachment of towing means, and means including an electric firing circuit rendered potential by said yielding-means for exploding said explosive.

21. The combination with a submarine mine, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of toga ing means, and firing means for and carried by said'mine' and controlled by said yielding means in such a manner as to render said firing means potential when said towing means is not under tension.

22. The combination with a submarine mine, of yielding means carried thereby for the attachment of towing means, explosive This specification signed and witnessed this 18th day of March A. D.,- 1913.

JOHN HAYS HABIMOND, JR.

' Signed in the presence of-- M. P. WINNE, DOROTHY F. DAWES. 

